Otolaryngology

April 23, 2024

Each year, care team members from throughout Mayo Clinic donate their time and knowledge to support underserved areas. This outreach is not limited to Florida or the United States — it spans the globe.

An example of these efforts is the medical mission trip to Ukraine in November 2023. Samip Patel, M.D., an otolaryngologist at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, participated as part of this Face to Face (F2F) humanitarian program. Trip members provided pro bono facial reconstruction to 34 soldiers injured during war.

In addition, the U.S. group trained their Ukrainian colleagues on how to perform intricate surgeries, including free tissue reconstruction, for complex facial injuries.

"This work allowed Ukrainian civilians and military personnel with complex facial and neck injuries to receive treatment without leaving Ukraine, which is especially important given their current health state," Dr. Patel says. "It was a meaningful experience and a privilege to work alongside a strong and resilient Ukrainian team."

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